276 WHAT MAY IT MEAN ?

IT showed him the ruins of our boat which we lost when we
escaped, and which T could not stir with my whole strength then,
but was now fallen almost all to pieces. Upon seeing this boat,
Friday stood musing a great while, and said nothing. I asked
him what it was he studied upon. At last says he, “ Me see such
boat like come to place at my nation.”

  

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“THE RUINS OF OUR BOAT, WHICH WAS NOW ALMOST FALLEN TO PLECES.”

I did not understand him a good while; but at last, when I had
examined further into it, T understood by him that a boat, such as
that had been, came on shore upon the country where he lived;
that is, as he explained it, was driven thither by stress of weather.
I presently imagined that some European ship must have been
cast away upon their coast, and the boat might get loose and
drive ashore; but was so dull, that I never once thought of -men
making escape from a wreck thither, much less whence they might
come; 0 1 only inquired after a description of the boat.